Connecticut State Police to gunmakers: No more advice on law

Back in May, a month after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed the state's gun control law, Stag Arms of New Britain came up with a modified design and took it to the state police firearms unit to see whether it would pass muster.The unit was helpful, even making a design suggestion that would help assure the gun would not be classified as an illegal assault weapon. Stag prepared to make the rifle, a .22 caliber version of the military style AR 15.Then in June, the state legislature tightened the law in order to correct a few problems. Stag returned with an updated model, seeking an opinion.But this time, the firearms unit had a different answer."I was told to get a lawyer, figure it out and if I'm wrong I'm going to have to deal with it," said Mark Malkowski, the Stag Arms owner and president. "It's my responsibility to interpret .... I was told we were no longer allowed to bring prototypes in."